The official opening of the new filling station saw VIP guests including the mayor and mayoress of Kirklees and Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff turn out to cut the ribbon.

The event included a free prize draw and the chance to see a replica Gulf 917 endurance car, based on the model which dominated racing from 1969-71 and which was driven by Steve McQueen in the film Le Mans. Customers were also given goody bags by the Hans family and over 350 people turned out to look around the new-look garage.

A large cake was cut in recognition of the business achieving landmark status as petroleum company Gulf’s 500th branded forecourt in the country.

“We are extremely grateful to the mayor, Coun Paul Kane, mayoress Susan Bedford and our MP Paula Sherriff for joined us along with many customers for this special day,” said Yusuf Hans, who runs the business with his father Mohamed and four uncles.

“We took the decision to close the site for four months so that we could build a state-of-the-art service station offering the very best facilities to serve our community with fuels, convenience products and food to go for at least the next 20 years.”